Frank Gehry's Santa Monica Live/Work Gem Just Hit the Market

Lucía Torres · 2026-10-02

### A Home Where the Architecture Is the Art Some homes give you a place to create. This one makes creativity part of the structure itself. At 1643 12th Street #2 in Santa Monica, the walls, the light, and the volume were all designed with artists in mind. The residence was developed by the legendary late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry alongside Los Angeles artist Charles Arnoldi. That pairing tells you a lot. This isn't just a condo. It's a piece of architectural history with a direct line to the city's creative community. ### The Space Itself Represented by The Agency's Brandon Assanti, Residence 2 sits on a southwest-facing corner of an intimate six-unit building. You get roughly 2,565 square feet of interior space, currently set up as both a private home and an art gallery. So what makes it feel like a gallery? A few things stand out: - Seventeen-foot ceilings that let the room breathe - Expansive walls built for hanging serious work - Industrial-scale windows that pull in natural light - Skylights that push daylight deep into every room - Concrete floors and a restrained material palette that let art and furniture take center stage That last point matters. When the finishes stay quiet, your collection gets to speak. ### How the Layout Works The entry level pairs a dramatic double-height great room with an office or bedroom, a full bathroom, and a mezzanine. It's flexible enough to shift with how you actually live. Above that, the living and dining areas flow into a custom kitchen with concrete countertops and stainless-steel appliances. Clean lines, no fuss. The uppermost floor is devoted entirely to the primary suite. City and ocean views come with it, along with a walk-in closet and a marble-clad bathroom. Waking up there would be a whole ritual. ### A Little Hollywood History The creative backstory doesn't stop with Gehry and Arnoldi. The residence's former owner was Robin French, a prominent talent agent whose clients included Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, and Richard Burton. He later served as Paramount Pictures' production chief. That connection adds a layer of Hollywood history to a property already defined by its architectural origins. You're not just buying square footage. You're buying a story. ### Who This Is Really For If you're drawn to art and modern living, this Santa Monica residence offers an unusually compelling canvas. It's the kind of place where the home and the work feed each other. To learn more about or tour 1643 12th Street #2, connect with Brandon Assanti.